First Edition
First Edition Books for Sale Online
Raptis Rare Books maintains an extensive collection of rare and first-edition books from a variety of authors and publishers. Navigate through our full selection of first-editions below to find a particular item you're looking for, ask a question, or order online today!
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"Who is the most important person I've ever met in a signing queue & the first person ever to see merit in Harry Potter. With huge [underlined 4 times] thanks. J.K. Rowling": First Edition, First Printing of J.K. Rowling's Rare First Book Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone; Inscribed by Her to Bryony Evens and with a large original illustration by Thomas Taylor
ROWLING, J.K.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
London: Bloomsbury, 1997.
First edition, first printing of the rarest book in the Harry Potter series, a cornerstone of young adult literature, and one of the best-selling books of all time. First printing with "First published in Great Britain in 1997", the full number line "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1", "Joanne Rowling" for "J.K. Rowling", and "Thomas Taylor1997" (lacking the space) on the copyright page and "1 wand" listed twice (as the first item and last item) on the "Other Equipment" list on page 53. Octavo, original laminated pictorial boards, without a dust jacket as issued. Association copy,…
Price: $975,000.00 Item Number: 115640
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Exceedingly rare first edition, first issue presentation copy of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit; inscribed by Tolkien to the Livesleys who ran the summer guest cottage in the village of Sidmouth which inspired 'The Shire' and where Tolkien did much of his writing
TOLKIEN, J.R.R.
The Hobbit.
London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1937.
First edition, first issue of Tolkien's classic tale, "among the very highest achievements of children’s authors during the 20th century” (Carpenter & Pritchard, 530), one of only a handful of presentation copies reserved for Tolkien to give to family members, colleagues and close friends. Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, frontispiece and 9 full-page uncolored illustrations after drawings by Tolkien. Presentation copy, inscribed by Tolkien on the flyleaf, "Mr. & Mrs. Livesley & Edgar with best wishes from J.R.R. Tolkien." The recipients, the Livesleys and their son Edgar, ran the Kennaway House, a Regency town house in the village of Sidmouth,…
Price: $475,000.00 Item Number: 135801
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"Taking the pledge will not make bad liquor good, but it will improve it": The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; inscribed by Mark Twain
TWAIN, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens].
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade).
New York: Charles L. Webster and Company, 1886.
Early printing of Twain's masterpiece, inscribed by Mark Twain. Octavo, bound in half buckram by Roycroft with paper labels to the spine, tissue-guarded frontispiece photogravure plate of Gerhardt's bust of Clemens, one hundred and seventy-four illustrations by E. W. Kemble. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, "To Mr. Garth W. Cate: Taking the pledge will not make bad liquor good, but it will improve it. Truly Yours, Mark Twain, Nov. 25/06." With a lengthy letter of provenance dated October 14, 1964 and signed by the recipient which reads in part, "Dear Mr. Jacobs, If I had been younger…
Price: $75,000.00 Item Number: 123083
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Complete Set of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Deluxe Editions; Each Signed by Her and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone signed by Thomas Taylor with an original drawing
ROWLING, J.K.
Harry Potter Series Complete Deluxe Set. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince, and The Deathly Hallows.
London: Bloomsbury, 1997-2007.
First editions of the deluxe edition of each book in Rowling's Harry Potter series. Octavo, 7 volumes, illustrated, original decorative cloth as issued. Each volume is signed by J.K. Rowling on the title page and was signed by Rowling in person for the previous owner. The Prisoner of Azkaban is inscribed. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is additionally signed on the title page by Thomas Taylor with an original drawing of Harry Potter. When Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was in the initial stages of publication in 1996, illustrator Thomas Taylor had just graduated from art school and…
Price: $48,000.00 Item Number: 81035
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“Don't you know that everybody's got a Fairyland of their own?”: Rare First Edition of Mary Poppins; Signed by P.L. Travers
TRAVERS, P.L.
Mary Poppins.
New York: Reynal & Hitchcock, 1934.
First American edition of this children's classic. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with 27 line cuts (13 full-page) and chapter tailpieces by Mary Shepard. Boldly signed by P.L. Travers on the front free endpaper. Very good in a very good dust jacket with some light rubbing and wear. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare and desirable signed.
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 96590
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First Edition of Lady and the Tramp; Boldly Signed by Walt Disney, Bill Justice Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Eric Larson, and Woolie Reitherman
DISNEY, Walt; Ward Greene [Bill Justice].
Lady and the Tramp: The Story of Two Dogs.
New York: Simon and Schuster, 1953.
First edition of Lady and the Tramp, boldly signed by Walt Disney, Bill Justice and four of Disney's nine old men: Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Eric Larson, and Woolie Reitherman. Octavo, original cloth, with charming illustrations by Joe G. Rinaldi. Signed by Walt Disney on the title page in crayon and on the front free endpaper by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas in crayon, Woolie Reitherman in pencil, and Eric Larson and Bill Justice in pen. Foreword by Walt Disney. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. A unique example.
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 140785
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"I hope that this book ain't so silly and that it will always remain in the cas[s]a": First Edition of Where the Sidewalk Ends, Signed by Shel Silverstein; Inscribed to the Children of His Editor
SILVERSTEIN, Shel.
Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings.
New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1974.
First edition of the author's first collection of children's poetry. Stated first edition on the copyright page. Small quarto, original brown cloth, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by Shel Silverstein with an original poem on the front free endpapers to the children of his editor and publicist William Cole, "For Alex and Rossa and Billy, I hope that this book ain't so silly and that it will always remain in the cas[s]a (The superfluous 's' has been scribbled out with footnote "Bill Cole's Incessant Editorial Meddling") of Billy and Alex Rossa (Not a bad rhyme for three such difficult names and…
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 91344
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"I'm wearing a necklace and ear-rings so that the mountains can enjoy looking at them!": Exceptionally rare collection of autograph letters signed by reclusive author P.L. Travers
TRAVERS, P.L.
Collection of P. L. Travers Autograph Letters Signed Archive.
1974-1993.
Exceptionally rare collection of 28 typed and hand written letters and notes signed by the author of Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers. 36 pages, the letters are a collection of 20 years of correspondence between Travers and close personal friends John and Jacqueline Rutherfurd and offer an intimate glimpse into Travers' personal life and many travels. In one note dated August 10, 1981, Travers writes: "Dear Jaqueline, I write, with a newly overhauled portable (and see how it works and imagine what I will have to say to them when I get back to London!) from Chandolin, the highest lived-in-all-the-year-round village…
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 92809
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“NIELSEN’S MOST SPECTACULAR AND CELEBRATED BOOK”: SIGNED LIMITED EDITION OF EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST OF THE MOON
NIELSEN, Kay. Asbjornsen.
East of the Sun West of the Moon: Old Tales from the North.
London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1914.
Signed limited edition of one of the most important and impressive books of the Golden Age of book illustration. One of 500 numbered copies, this is number 41. Quarto, original vellum, gilt titles and decoration to spine and front cover gilt, top edge gilt, pictorial endpapers. Signed by the illustrator Kay Nielsen. With 25 tipped in color plates. In near fine condition. A very nice example. Laid is the original notice for the Leicester Galleries exhibition held in November and December of 1914, where the watercolors for this book were offered for sale.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 69026
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"I KNOW IT IS WET AND THE SUN IS NOT SUNNY, BUT WE CAN HAVE LOTS OF GOOD FUN THAT IS FUNNY": FIRST EDITION OF THE CAT IN THE HAT; Signed by Dr. Seuss
SEUSS, Dr. [Theodor Geisel].
The Cat in the Hat.
New York: Random House, 1957.
First edition, first issue of Dr. Seuss’ classic work. Octavo, original illustrated unlaminated boards. All issue points present: price of 200/200 on the dust jacket, no mention of the “Beginner Books” series on the rear panel, and has four paragraphs of educator’s reviews on rear panel. Book contains a single signature and 61 pages with a message on final page before end paper contained in an outline of the cat’s hat & head. Boldly signed by Dr. Seuss opposite the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket with light wear. An exceptional example.
Price: $12,000.00 Item Number: 142017
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FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST PEANUTS BOOK; SIGNED BY CHARLES SCHULZ
SCHULZ, Charles M.
Peanuts.
New York: Rinehart & Company, 1952.
First edition of the first collection of the Peanuts cartoons. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers as issued. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper, "Best wishes Charles M. Schulz." In fine condition, as this was stored upon publication by the original owner. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. An exceptional example, rare and desirable signed.
Price: $9,500.00 Item Number: 136467
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"... fortune holds some gifts in store for those who try": First Edition of Percy Fitzpatrick's Classic Work Jock of the Bushveld; Signed by Him
FITZPATRICK, Percy.
Jock of the Bushveld.
London: Longmans, Green and Company, 1907.
First edition, first issue with drawings of a dung beetle pushing his load with his front legs rather than his back on pages 65, 337 and 457. Octavo, original green cloth, gilt titles and tooling to the spine and front panel, illustrated throughout. Boldly signed by Percy Fitzpatrick on the title page. In excellent condition with the spine gilt bright and light rubbing to the extremities. Illustrated by E. Caldwell. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. First printings signed by Fitzpatrick are rare.
Price: $7,500.00 Item Number: 70082
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"Animals don't behave like men,' he said. 'If they have to fight, they fight; and if they have to kill they kill. But they don't sit down and set their wits to work to devise ways of spoiling other creatures' lives and hurting them. They have dignity and animality": First Edition of Watership Down; Signed by Richard Adams
ADAMS, Richard.
Watership Down.
London: Rex Collings, 1972.
First edition of the author's first and most beloved work. Octavo, original brown cloth, folding map. Boldly signed the author on the title page, "Yours sincerely Richard Adams." Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box by Asprey. An exceptional example, uncommon signed.
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 136602
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“Don't you know that everybody's got a Fairyland of their own?”: Signed limited Edition of P.L. Travers' Mary Poppins and Legendary Actor Dick Van Dyke
TRAVERS, P.L. [Dick Van Dyke].
Mary Poppins.
New York: Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1997.
Signed limited edition of this children's classic, one of 100 numbered copies, this is number 37. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Mary Shepard. In fine condition. Additionally signed "God bless! Dick Van Dyke" on the front free endpaper, who starred in the 1964 film adaptation. A unique example.
Price: $5,800.00 Item Number: 142005
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"It's not what's around the Christmas tree that matters it's who's around it": First Edition of A Charlie Brown Christmas; Signed by Charles Schulz
SCHULZ, Charles M.
A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Cleveland and New York: World Publishing, 1965.
First edition of the author's classic Christmas story and later filmed for television, which was later honored with both an Emmy and Peabody Award. Small quarto, original boards. Boldly signed by Charles Schulz on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket with light rubbing, small name to the half-title page. Rare and desirable signed.
Price: $4,750.00 Item Number: 138367
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“Once upon a time there lived a little boy named jack”: Jack the Giant Killer; In the Rare Original Dust Jacket
DOYLE, Richard.
Jack the Giant Killer.
London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1888.
First manuscript facsimile edition, reproduced from Richard Doyle’s original text. Slim quarto, original cloth, patterned endpapers, illustrated. Near fine in the original dust jacket with some chips and tears. Any dust jacket from the 1880's are rare; this is the only example we have seen or heard of. Rare and desirable.
Price: $3,800.00 Item Number: 59056
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“Don't you know that everybody's got a Fairyland of their own?”: Mary Poppins; Signed by P.L. Travers and Legendary Actor Dick Van Dyke
TRAVERS, P.L. [Dick Van Dyke].
Mary Poppins.
New York: Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1962.
Later printing of this children's classic. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Mary Shepard. Boldly signed by P.L. Travers on the title page and additionally by actor Dick Van Dyke, who starred in the 1964 film adaptation. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Rare and desirable signed by both Travers and Van Dyke.
Price: $3,000.00 Item Number: 145897
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Finely Bound Edition of Rudyard Kipling's The First and Second Jungle Books; Bound by Bayntun Bindery with a Fore-Edge Painting
KIPLING, Rudyard.
The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book. [Fore-edge Painting].
London: Macmillan, 1978.
Finely bound edition of both volumes of The Jungle Book, with an exceptional fore-edge painting. Octavo, bound in full morocco by Bayntun Bindery, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, all edges gilt, engraved frontispiece with tissue guard present. Illustrated by J. L. Kipling, W.H. Drake and P. Frenzeny. In near fine condition. Rare and desirable.
Price: $1,800.00 Item Number: 139448
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First Edition, first issue of Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses
STEVENSON, Robert Louis .
A Child’s Garden of Verses.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co, 1885.
First edition, first issue of Stevenson's classic work. Small octavo, original cloth, gilt titles to the spine, top edges gilt. With publisher's logo in gilt at top left of front cover, presumed publisher's blind stamp on title page, gilt apostrophe on spine with curved tail, gilt "of" on spine in smaller type, without advertisements. In near fine condition, owners name to the front free endpaper. Housed in a contemporary custom clamshell box. An exceptional example.
Price: $1,750.00 Item Number: 123972